Our Projects
Grade Separations
Irving Park Road & Canadian Pacific Grade Separation
Topline Community Benefits
More reliable freight rail service through speed improvements.and upgraded infrastructure.
Improved user experience and roadway conditions of the local area.
Increased freight and passenger rail throughput.
Project Funding Needs
Project Location Map
This map highlights the project's location within the region.
To learn more about other CREATE projects, zoom out to explore the map.
Municipality
Bensenville
Project Area
| North Limit | Gateway Rd. |
|---|---|
| South Limit | W Roosevelt Ave. |
| East Limit | O'Hare International Airport |
| West Limit | N York Rd. |
Project Overview & Impact
This completed grade separation of IL Route 19 (Irving Park Road) at the Canadian Pacific Railroad (CPRR) improves the experience for the 32,600 vehicles and 31 Pace buses that pass through the crossing daily. Separation of the roadway from the rail line reduces roadway congestion and improves safety at this location on Irving Park Road (IL-19) – a primary arterial road. This grade separation is located at the southwestern edge of O’Hare Airport.
This separation also significantly improves railroad operations by enabling the CPRR to run trains unimpeded at all times. Currently the CPRR averages 25 trains per day. During peak weekday Metra commuter service CPRR does not run trains across IL Route 19.
The most significant component of the improvement included lowering Irving Park Road and raising the Canadian Pacific Railroad Bridge to provide an improved vertical clearance. The structure is a 131 foot single span bridge with closed abutments.
This project was completed in 2017. For additional information about the project, see IDOT’s project flyer.
Project Benefits
CommunitiesThe Irving Park Road & Canadian Pacific Railroad Grade Separation delivers substantial time saving, safety improvements, and mobility gains for the local community and freight rail operators. The grade crosing separation fosters higher quality roadway conditions and improved experience.
Nearby Chicago, IL Community Areas: Bensenville
Jobs & EconomicsIncreased goods movement and bus transit frequency is delivered through the project, enabling greater economic development.
EnvironmentalReduction in automobile and locomotive idling.
Passenger Rail ServicesFreight rail improvements benefit the whole rail system.
Get Involved
If your organization is interested in working with the CREATE Program, please refer to our Bid Advertisements and RFP page to apply for active projects.
We also encourage you to attend our Get On Board: Business-to-Business networking events, Union Outreach events, and other relevant events to learn more about the Program and build connections. Please see our Events page for the latest information on upcoming events.
CREATE partners also fund on-the-job training on construction projects for entry-level positions who have graduated from IDOT’s Highway Construction Careers Training Program (HCCTP). For more information on the program, please click here to learn more.
Project Status
| Phase I | Completed |
|---|
| Phase II | Completed |
|---|
| Phase III | Completed |
|---|
Project Status Definitions:
– Phase I: Environmental & Preliminary Engineering
– Phase II: Final Design (Plans, Specifications & Estimates)
– Phase III: Construction
Stay Informed About These Projects
Want to stay in the know? Sign up for the CREATE newsletter to receive the latest project updates and ongoing project information.